“This is a significant amount of hard narcotics discovered by our frontline CBP officers in the commercial environment and the seizure reflects an effective utilization of officer experience, training and technology,” said Port Director Joseph Misenhelter, Laredo Port of Entry.

The seizure occurred on Aug. 11 at World Trade Bridge when CBP officers referred a 1998 Utility tractor hauling an empty trailer driven by a 24–year-old male Mexican citizen from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico for a secondary examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered 40 packages containing a total of nearly 101 pounds of alleged cocaine within the conveyance. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $778,000.

CBP officers seized the narcotics, tractor, arrested the driver and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.